Human Resources Advisor at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

This role is part of the HR Advisor team, which functionally supports HR Coordinators (referred to as HRCo’s) and HR teams in MSF OCA Mission countries, with the ultimate aim of supporting operational objectives. Each HR Advisor has a portfolio of missions and works closely with the Operations desk/s managing those missions.     

They also work closely with other Office Teams (for instance linking with L&D Advisors on the direction of overall missing staffing strategies or with stakeholders bringing expertise or steering on specific topics such as compensation and benefits, employee engagement, or performance management) and collaboratively within the HRA team to share expertise and bring forward initiatives on how to improve the HR support offer.    

The role reports hierarchically to the HR Advisor Coordinator; Reports functionally to the Operations Manager (OM) of the Operations Desk; the Position will be situated in the Operations Desk.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Main Responsibilities

• Collaborates with Operations Desk & HRCO in designing the Mission’s HR objectives planned in AP/ MYR and related operational objectives.
• Functional line management to HRCOs in their portfolio, providing direct guidance, coaching and support. 
• Directly responsible to provide HR tactical support and supervise the implementation of HR related policies and tools in the Mission portfolio of the OST, ensuring they are in line with OCAs HR and International framework and with the operational and context needs.
• As a proactive member of the OST, the HR Advisor Ops Desk acts as a liaison between Operations and HR Field Department in HQ, ensuring quality HR advice and an efficient flow of information between the two departments and disseminating HR state of affairs within the Mission portfolio.

Responsibilities & Activities

• Represents and liaises on behalf of the HR Department towards the assigned Operational Desk and the Operational Support Team (OST).
• Responsible for supporting, coaching, steering and mentoring of HRCOs in the portfolio(s).
• Provides advice and guidance to the Operational Manager and the Operational Support Team (OST) to ensure HR requirements for the missions are met. Acts as a sparring partner for the Desk.
• Provides advice and guidance to OMs and other field managers on staff (yearly) planning, HR processes and staffing issues focusing on Locally Recruited Staff
• Provides overall framework, initiates, and coordinates, in collaboration with HRCOs, on mission-related or Desk’s HR-related activities such as staff year planning, projects, implementations, etc.
• Coordinates HR tactical/technical activities and leads on specialized HR topics and policies such as Comp/Ben, talent management of locally recruited staff, Learning Development, Performance management, and Disciplinary Procedures. 
• Acts as the single point of contact and link from HR Field towards Operations for HR-related initiatives and state of affairs within the portfolio’s mission(s). 
• Regular field support visits of approximately 20 - 40% per year (1x per year to each mission and projects in the portfolio if needed) to gain in-depth understanding of mission and projects contexts and requirements, and offer F2F support and HQ HR representation in the portfolio’s mission(s).
• Coordinate and collaborates for any mission and project specific implementations such as changes in Function grid, IRP2 and other HR policies.
• Supports the HR&LD function in the mission to embed Responsible Behaviour and Engagement in the portfolio(s) mission. 
• Coordinates tactical staffing year plan with HRCO focusing on development of NS (talent, succession & performance management).
• Support performance management in the field to ensure staff are fully accountable and acknowledged for their actions and results, including implementation of new Performance Management System.
• In collaboration with the wider HRA team, develop common standards in tools and processes.
• Working closely with Learning & Development, support the mission HR&LD function in staff development, proactive talent and succession planning. 
• Liaises with the HR Specialists and/or other international/intersectional initiatives/working groups.
• Enhance leadership and people management skills, both on field and HQ level, and improving their capacity to manage complex situations, increased volume of work and developing relevant guidance and tools.
• Represents OCA’s interests in various HR platforms to flag issues, promote cohesive approaches and share lessons learned, with the objective of ensuring good quality support to operations. 

Communication

Internal

• With the HR Management team, and HR Department (Specialists, Implementers) on the mission’s HR activities and state of affairs
• HRCo’s and other HR&LD related functions in the mission.

External

• (Senior) Line Management, Operations and Support departments on the HR tactical activities.
• OST & L&D on proper execution of HRM tactical activities and development programmes.
• Intersectional HR counterparts when needed.

Qualifications

• MSF experience is a must, preferably with several mission experience
• Essential degree in HR management or at least 5 years’ experience in HR at a senior level
• Willingness to travel of approximately 20 - 40% to the field
• Strong communication skills
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Superior customer service skills
• Essential; computer literacy (word, excel, power point and internet)
• Strong ability to multi-task
• Experience working in a fast-paced and demanding working environment
• Essential; working language in English, with French and/or Arabic language skills a plus.

Competencies

• Integrity
• Planning & organizing
• Organizational sensitivity
• Adaptability
• Customer orientation
• Results orientation

Application deadline: 26th April 2023